Bank of England Keeps Rates Unchanged

Investors Expect BOE to Lift Rates Early Next Year

LONDON—The Bank of England left the U.K.'s benchmark interest rate unchanged Thursday amid criticism that officials are sending confusing signals on when borrowing costs will eventually start to rise.

The central bank said its nine-member Monetary Policy Committee agreed to leave the BOE's main interest rate at a low of 0.5% and the size of its bond portfolio at 375 billion pounds ($637 billion) after officials' two-day meeting....